Black, Brown, White, and Greek: Cross-Racial Interactions at an Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution

• In Event: College Student Experiences With Diversity

Abstract

This paper presents findings from an investigation about cross-racial interactions and Greek life at an emerging Hispanic-serving institution. Prejudice reduction theory, critical race theory, and literature on cross-racial interactions are used to understand the campus ingroup and outgroup dynamics related to Greek organizations. In-depth interviews with 26 students who identified as African American, Latino/Hispanic, and White were conducted to understand the extent and the contexts in which they interacted with diverse others. Findings indicated that the prominence of Greek life impacted, and in fact limited, the co-curricular and informal cross-racial interactions students engaged in on this campus.

Author

• Brighid M. Dwyer, Villanova University